Suction cleaner



W. H. KITTO Feb. 4, 1936.

SUCT I OH CLEANER OriginalFiled Jamil, 1934 ATTORNEY Figure2;

Reissued "he; 4, 1936* UNITED STATES poration of Ohio 8 Claims.

9 The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to a new and improvedsuction cleaner construction embodying floor-lighting means. More specifically the invention comprises the provision of a suction cleaner construction in which the floor-lighting means are positioned and carried in a new and novel manner. I

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner construction. It is .a further object to provide, in a suction cleaner, a new and improved construction embodying floor-lighting means. Still another object is the provision of combination motor 15 and floor-lighting means in which the latter is positioned substantially within the confines of the cleaner motor and is removable as a unit with a part thereof. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following inconnection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which the same reference character refers to like parts in the various views: i

Figure 1 is a side view of a modern suction cleaner embodying floor-lighting means constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial sectionthrough the cleaner therein;

V Figure 3 is a section upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a-section upon the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure} is a vertical section through the motor removed; Figure 6 is a section upon the line H .of

Figure his a section upon the line 1-1 of Figure 6, and. shows the separable contacts;

Figure 8 is asection upon the line lI of Figure 7.

It has been discovered that .the usefulness of a suction cleaner is materially increased by the provision of a floor-illuminating light carried by the cleaner. Such means should be so positioned relative to the machine that it directs light rays to the surface covering undergoing cleaning immediately forward thereof. The mounting of the headlight or floor-illuminator-upon the machine must be such that the over-all height of the cleaner is not materially increased; and should preferably be so arranged that the Iight'cannot be injured by contact'with articles of furniture etc. In the suction cleaner constru ted i cordance with the present invention the light has specification and claims and upon considering motor showing the lighting means embodied casing cap showing the lighting means partially been mounted completely 'con- PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER Williamfl. Kitto, Canton, Ohio, asaignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a cor- Application for (01. zap-2) tour of the niotor and is completely protected. This result has been obtained ina relatively simple, and inexpensive manner yet one which produces a finished product which ishighly desirable in appearance and functional operation.

Referring again to the drawing and Figure 1 in particular, the reference character I indicates the cleaner nozzle, 2 the fan chamber and 3 the exhaust outlet. A dust bag 4 is removably secured by means to the outlet 3, as in the usual cleaner construction; The parts I, 2 and 3 form what is usually known as the main casing of the machine and may be made in a single casting or may be assembled, as desired. Front and rear supporting wheels 6 and fl movably support the 15 main casingwhile the provision of a pivot handle 8 makes possible the convenient manipulation of the machine by the operator.

Within the fan chamber 2 is rotatably molmted the suction-creating fan 9 which is carried by the lower end of the cleaner motor which is itself carried by the casing and positioned immediately above the fan chamber. The motor comprisesa rigid frame, the lower portion ill of.

which is cylindrical in shape and also serves as a part of the motor casingpit being secured to the top of the chamber 2 by screws, one of which is indicated bythe reference character II.

The motor frame above the cylindrical casing portion It comprises spaced arms l2, l2 which extend upwardly and then inwardly to form. a bearing seat is within which is removably poe sitioned a ball-bearing It. The arm I! at the front side of the motor extends inwardly immediately above the cylindrical casing portion until it closely approaches the armature II and its commutator It. It then extends upwardly to the bearing seat II, This arm provides, in effect, an outwardly facingshelf. The armature ii of the motor, including its commutator It, is rotatably mounted in the bearing It with the shaft l1 extended therein. The stationary field portions of the motor may be suitably moimted in or on the cylindrical portion [0 of the frame.

' The casing of the motor is completed by are? movable cap member It which seats on the portion III and is removably secured thereto by means of screws which extend through the top of the cap into certain of the arms II of the frame; cated in Figure 1 by the reference character. IQ. The forward portion of cap ll is provided with an opening 20, the walls of the ,capsurround the opening extending to a slightly greater diameter than the remainder of the cap for purposes of 55' The light-creating means is removably mountedin the cap "immediately behind the opening to One of these retaining screws is indiinnersurfaceofcapi8belowopening2l. Aleaf I.. asheetmetalframe "ftwhichisshapedaaandservesaaareflector.

'lhetopoi'reflectorflisadaptedtocontactthe top ofcap II while its lowermostportion, deflned byacurvedwallilisadaptedtolieagainstthe spring" is carriedby the cap is andcontacts ,thebackofreflectorflurgingittowardthe opening 2.. An integral, inner shoulder II on,

cap I. limits the movement of the upper part of reflector 22 and the curved wall a contacting 'withthecapbelowtheopeningperformsasimilar function for the lowspart thereof. Inwardly extending pins 20 on the cap cooperate with openings 21 in the portion II of reflector 22 and prevent unintended downward displacement of that member.

A lamp-carrying socket 2! of insulating material is carried atone end of reflector II, and is provided with contacts 2!, I. to whichcurrentcarrying leads II, I. attach. The lamp bulb removably seats on the socket and is indicated by the reference ter ll. The leads il i fixtend from the bulb socket to contacts 32, 82 one of the leads flrst passing through a'manually operable switch is carried by thecap ll. Thecontacts 32,32 arecarriedbyan 'lnsulatingbodyllwhichismounteduponthe cap II and is removable therewith. when the cap is in place the contacts II, 82 contact the cooperating contacts I, II carried by an insulatingbodyfluponthecasingportion' ll. Leads 31, ll, of which one is shown in Figure I, connect the contacts ll, II to the electrical circuit of the motor, the motor itself being supplied with current by conductors carried by the conduit 38 throwsthe circuit of the lighting means into the electrical circuit of the motor. The exact electrical connection of the lighting circuit to the motor circuit is not of the essence of this invention. It for any reason the light fails, or if it is desired to obtain admission to the motor, it is only necessary to remove the casing portion II, the lighting circuit and all of its connections comingawayfromthe motorproperwiththe cap portion II, the contacts 82, I! and 3', SI separating and breaking the circuit. with the cap it removed from the motor proper in order to removethe light-from the cap it is only necessarytoflexthespringllrcarwardlytothedotted .linepositionshowninligureo. Thereflectorll together withmcketand bulbistheneasilydi casingportiomaframeportionexiendingrigidly at the side of said casing portion, an'armature rotatably supported in said frame portion, a removablecasingportionenclosingsaidframeporraces tionandprovldedwithanopeningononeside,

a light reflector, socket, and bulb carried bysaidremovable casing portion adjacent said opening andwithinthenormalperipheryofsaidcasing portion, andcurrent-carryingmeam connecting saidsocketwithasourceoielectriccurrenc.

2. Inasuctioncleaner,amotorincludingarotatable armature having a reduced diameter at oneofitsendaaframesupportlngsaidarmature, acasingenclosingsaidframeandarmatureand having an opening, 'a' space being provided between said casing and the part of said armature of reduced diameter, a lighting unit mounted on said casing facing saidopening and positioned in said space, and current-carrying means connect- .ingsaidunittoasourceofcurrent.

Jacent said opening, a light mounted'a't said reflector, said casing, reflector and light movable as a unit from said frame.

4. The construction defln'ed lin claim 3' where-{ am is.

in said light is mounted; on reflector midis i.

removable therefroni 'afs, a

5. In a suction cleaner, a'frame including a hollow cylindrical portion and arms extending. 1;

from circumferentially spaced ,points on said cylindrical portion and converging at a central point at one end thereof, a bearing at-said cen tral portion, an armature rotatably mounted in said bearing and extended through said cy1in--. drical portion, one of said arms being curved to extend toward the axis of rotation between said central point and said cylindrical portion to form an outwardly facing shelf, a removable casing enclosing said arms and having an opening adlacent saidshelf, a lighting unit including reflector, socket and bulb carried in said casing adiacent said opening, and means connecting said light to a source of electric current.

6. In a suction cleaner motor, a rotatable armature including a commutator of smaller diameter than the central part of said armatureand positioned at one end thereof, means rotatably supporting said armature including a bearing outside said commutator and a frame. saidiframe being formed to provide a recess adjacent said commutator, a casing member enclosing a part of said motor including said commutator and provided with an opening adjacent said recess,

a light carried by said casing and positioned in said recess with said casing member in place, and current-conducting means connecting said light to a source of current.

7. The construction deflned in claim 6 characterincd by the fact that said current conducting meansconnecttocontactscarriedbysaid casing member which are adapted to contact suitable contacts mounted on said frame.

8. 'IheconstructiondeflnedinclaimGcharacterisedbythefactthatamanualiyoperable switch is'carried by said casing member and is cimnected in the circuit of said light.

' wmum a. Err-r0. 

